BJP Intensifies Kerala Assembly Election Campaign with New Candidate List
The BJP has ramped up its campaign for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections by releasing a second list of candidates, which includes a notable increase in female representation. With the elections scheduled for April 9, the political landscape is heating up as the CPI(M)-led LDF and the INC-led UDF prepare for a fierce contest. The previous elections saw the LDF retain power, marking a significant moment in Kerala's political history. As the BJP aims to make its mark, the dynamics of the upcoming elections promise to be intriguing.
| Mar 19, 2026, 11:35 IST
Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: BJP's Candidate Announcement
The countdown for the Kerala Assembly elections in 2026 has officially begun. On Thursday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its second list of 39 candidates, further intensifying the electoral battle. With this announcement, the BJP has now declared a total of 86 candidates for the upcoming elections.
Notably, this second list includes six women, raising the total number of female candidates to 13, with seven of them being part of the initial list.
Election Schedule and Key Competitors
Kerala Assembly Elections 2026
The Election Commission of India has confirmed that voting for the Kerala Assembly elections will take place in a single phase on April 9, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4.
The primary contest is expected to be between the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the CPI (M), and the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Indian National Congress. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), headed by the BJP, is also in the fray.
Recap of the 2021 Elections
In the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections, the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), made history by retaining power in the 140-member assembly. This marked the first time since 1977 that a ruling coalition secured a consecutive term in the state.
The CPI(M) emerged as the largest party, winning 62 seats with a vote share of 25.38%, while the Indian National Congress (INC) secured 21 seats with 25.12% of the votes as the leading party of the UDF. The Communist Party of India (CPI) won 17 seats, and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) claimed 15 seats.
Performance of Other Political Parties
Among other allied parties, the Kerala Congress (Mani) won five seats, while the Kerala Congress, Janata Dal (Secular), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) each secured two seats. Several smaller parties, including the Democratic Left Front (LJD), Indian National League (INL), Kerala Congress (Jacob), National Secular Conference (NSC), Kerala Congress (B), Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI), Congress (Secular), and Janadhipathy Kerala Congress (JKC), each won one seat.
Despite gaining a share of the votes, the BJP and its NDA allies, including the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), failed to win any seats. Independent candidates collectively won six seats in this election.